Impact propelling device.



R. CRAlG.

IMPACT FROPELLlNG DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED Aus.s,1911.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918 ZgliIllIIII/HIIIIIlIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII face/Zar lo 5 erf 7' ROBERT CRAIG, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIERNIA.

IMPACT PROPELLING DEVICE.

Application filed August 8,

To all ielzoni/ it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, Renner CRAIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California` have invented a new and useful Impact Propelling Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle propelling devices for use with self driven vehicles, especially agricultural tractors and the like.

The principal object of my invention is to produce a device of the class described of simple form and construction and of light weight as the action of the device does not depend upon the weight of the same .for traction purposes, but Idepends upon the grip obtained on'the ground by the impact of a series of blades which enter the ground and pull the device thereover.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter from the following description.

Referring to the drawings. which are for illustrative purposes only,

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a de .vice embodying a forni of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View on line 2 of Fig. .1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the impact elements, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to the rear end of Fig. 1, the parts being shown in a different. position.

l1 and 12 indicatel flat wheels al the forward and rear end of the device respectively, there being two such wheels at'each end. The wheels 1l are freely mounted on a.' Shaft 13 and the wheels 1Q are freely mounted upon a shaft 14.

ldesignates a platform support ed on the shafts 12% and 14 by brackets 11i. the platform l5 being arranged to support any suitable form of power device for operating the mechanism hereinafter described. Freely Imounted on the shafts 1? and .14 are sprocket wheels ll' and V1t? respectively, over which travel endless chains 20, the sprocket f wheels 18 being driven by means of sprockets 21` formed on the hubs of the wheels 18,

which in turn are driven by chains Q2 from sprockets Q3 secured to a shaft 24 mounted in brackets 25 on the platform 15, such shaft 24 being provided with a sprocket 21') which is driven by means of a chain 27 from any suitable power source not shown.

Moulin-'.1 on the sprocket chains 2O by means of rods 30, which are" secured to the chains in any suitable manner, ai'e a series Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

1917. serial No. 185.399. l

of sleeves 31 each of which is freely rotatable on its respectiveI rod and each of which is provided with two impact devices 212. Each impact device 32 consists ot a shank which weight may be adjusted onits associated shank by means of bolts 3G.

Formed on each sleeve 3l between the impact devices thereon is an arm' which extends between tlie impact devices and which terminates on its lower side in a downwardly depending lug, partially formed on the arm and partially on the sleeves.

The outer end of each arm 3T is substantially in alinement with the upper portion of its4 associated blades 31 vand is designed to travel during a portion of its travel on a track 10 supported on the shafts 13 and 11 by n'ieansof hubs 4l formed on the ends of the track.

Formed on thebrackets 16 at the rear end of the device is a curved cani plate 42 having a central cam track 43 adapted to be engaged by the lugs 3S, the portion of the plate #l2 at each side of the track -13 being of greater diameter to permit the blades 214. to freely pass over the: plate.

The device operatesl in the followingvr manner l.

The chains 2O are driven in the direction of the arrow shown in Fie'. 1 by the mechanism heretofore described. The impact deyvices 32 on the upper runs of the chains2() assume the posit-ion shown in Fig. .1; due to the fact that the arms il? ride upon the track L10. As the impact devices reach the forward end of the track l() and are caused to travel with a circular movementdue lo the. chains '121i ti'laveling around the sprocket vwheels 11". the outer `ends of blades S31:

in the ground.

As the chains 20 engage the sprocket 1S. the lug 38 on the arm 37 engages the cam track 43 as indicated at 52 in Fig.4 1. The continued movement of the chains causes the blades 81 of the 'impact device associated with the arm in engagement with the'cani track to be drawn upwawrdly out ofengag(`- ment with the earth. thereby freeing such blades and permitting the same lo pass against the earth with which the blades 3-1 are in contact during their movement with the lower runofthe chains, land that the traction so obtained is by virtue of the grip of the blades on the earth, by the imp-act of the blades with the eart-luand the pulling action above described and not due to the weight of the vehicle as is the case in ordi- .nar

forms of traction devices. hat I claim is y l. An impact propelling device comprising a wheeled support, a driven chain on said support, a series of blades pivotally connected to'said chain adaptedto successively enter the ground, and means for successively drawing said bladesfrom the ground, said means consisting of a cam, andl means connected lwith each of said blades adapted -to engage the cam.

2. A' traction device comprising a wheeled support, sprocket wheels mountedA on said support, endless chains on saidV sprocket wheels arranged to have an upper run land a lower run, a series of blades lpivota-lly connected'to said chains, weights fogcach i blade,v track means for supporting said blades below the upper run of said chains,

said blades being arrangedto bethr'own forwardly and downwardly while said Y. -chains pass around the sprocket wheels at one end of the device s o as yto cause the blades to enter the ground, cam means for causing the Vbladesto disengage the ground at the opposite end of the device,'and means for driving the chains through thevsprocket avheels. I

3. An impact tractionk device compris--A ing. a shank; a rod about which said shank" is free to turn; a blade secured on the outer or free end of said shank; a driving means for driving said blade into the ground; propelling mechanism for propelling the device forward by pulling on said rod; and i'eti'acting means for withdrawing said blade from the ground by rotatingsaid shank about the rod whenever said device has been propelled forward to the limit oi said, propelling mechanism.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the plane of the blade lios approximately in the circiiiiifcrcncc of aucirclc struck from the center of the rod. 1

5, The coiirbinations of claim 3 in which the driving means comprises a weight ata,

tached to the shank at or near the blade; and release means for dropping said blade and weight in such a manner as to drive .said blade into the ground.

6. The .combinations of claim 3 in which the plropelling means comprises chains in whic said rods are secured; sprockets by 4which said chains are driven; a pair 'of axles on which said sprockets turn a frame supported on said axles provided with bearings in which said axles turn in parallel ref lationship with each other; and wheels on said axles on which said impact traction device is carried.

7. The combinations oclaim 3 in which the blade from the ground.

8. The combinations' of claim 3 in which the driving means comprises a weight attached to the shank at or near the blade; and release meansffor dropping said blade and weight in such ainanner as to drive said blade into the ground. "ji

9. The combinations of claim 4 in which the propelling means comprises chains iii which said rods are secured: sprockets 'by which said chains are driven; a-pair of axleson which said sprockets turn; a frame supported on said axles provided with bearings in which said axles turn in parallel relationship'with each other; and wheels on said axles on whi'chsaid impact traction device is carried.

l0. The combinations of claim'fi in which the( retracting means comprises a member so, placed as to engage the shank and force it to'v'rotate in such a manner as to withdraw the blade from the ground.,

11. The combinations of claim 5' in which i? the propelling means'comprises chains vin which .said 'rods areA secured; sprockets by` which said chains' ary(x driven a, pair oi axles on which said sprockets turn; a frame .supported on said axles Iprovided with bearings, in which said axles turn 'in parallel relationship with each other; and -wheels an -said axles on which said impact traction k'device is carried.

l2. The combinations of claim 5 ir. which the reti-acting means comprises a member so placed as to engage the shank and force itw to rotate in such a mannerl as to withdraw the bladeiron'i the ground.;

13, The cor-.ibinations of claim' 6 in which itlto rotate insiichA a manner as to withdraw the blade from the ground.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto,

set'mv liand'at Los Angeles,l California,

1i) ir.

. the retractiiig means comprises a member.'

so placed as'. to engage the shank and force I Y 120, 

